Categories

We have made a number of changes to the category list for the 2018 awards in response to feedback we have received.

This year, we have added two investment awards to reflect excellence in beta investing - adding thePassive Manager of the YearandFactor Investing Manager of the Yearcategories to the line-up.

In addition, we have also added aCashflow-driven Investment (CDI) Manager of the Yearto recognise excellence among those managers who are developing strategies to help trustees deal with the challenges of managing cashflows as they become more mature.

Finally, we have also introduced aDiversity and Inclusion Excellence Awardto recognise those firms who are doing most to promote diversity and inclusion among their workforce.

The full list of categories for the 2018 awards is:

Pensions Personality of the Year Award

The Pensions Personality of the Year Award will, as in previous years, be decided by an industry-wide nomination and voting process. The winner of the award will be announced at the UK Pensions Awards dinner

Advisory Categories:

Actuarial/Pensions Consultancy of the Year

Employee Benefits Consultancy of the Year

DC Consultancy of the Year

Investment Consultancy of the Year

Pension Lawyers of the Year

Risk Reduction Adviser of the Year

DC Categories:

DC Pension Provider of the Year

DC Investment Manager of the Year

DC Multi-Asset Fund Manager of the Year

DC Master Trust of the Year

Retirement Income Provider of the Year

The Retirement Income Provider of the Year category is a wide-ranging category that rewards the firm that has excelled most in the retirement space in the 12 months to 31 October 2017. Areas this category covers include pre- and post- retirement investment funds, technology solutions / platforms, income drawdown and annuities.Judges will look at the extent to which your firm has developed its services, products and offerings for clients and the extent to which these services have helped pension schemes, employers, trustees and scheme members.

DC Innovation of the Year

The DC Innovation of the Year category is a wide-ranging category that rewards the firm that has innovated most in the DC space in the 12 months to 31 October 2017. This could include the launch of new DC offerings, new consulting services, investment innovation, technology solutions and services, communication, guidance and advice offerings etc. Judges will look at the extent to which your firm has developed new services, products and offerings for clients and the extent to which these innovations helped pension schemes, sponsors, trustees and scheme members.

DC Investment Innovation of the Year

The DC Investment Innovation of the Year category is a category that specifically focusses on DC investment innovation in the 12 months to 31 October 2017. Areas this category will cover include the launch of new investment funds for DC pension schemes such as multi-asset funds, funds that are designed to be used in the run-up to retirement or for those who remain invested and decide to use some form of drawdown.Judges will look at the extent these new funds have helped pension schemes, sponsors, trustees and scheme members and solved particular challenges they are facing and will also look at the quality of communication and transparency of the fund.

Investment Categories:

Investment Manager of the Year

Fiduciary Manager of the Year

Equity Manager of the Year

Fixed Income Manager of the Year

Passive Manager of the Year ***NEW FOR 2018***

Factor Investing Manager of the Year *** NEW FOR 2018 ***

DB Multi-Asset Manager of the Year

Emerging Markets Manager of the Year

Property Manager of the Year

Alternative Investment Manager of the Year

The wide-ranging Alternative Investment Manager of the Year category will rewards the asset management firm that has excelled most in the alternatives space over the 12 months to 31 October 2017.Areas this category will cover will include hedge funds, private equity and infrastructure as well as private debt. It will also include more specialist alternatives such as agriculture and timber. Please note, however, the category is not limited to these specific areas and other alternatives will be considered in this category also.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Manager of the Year

The Environmental Social and Governance Manager of the Year category aims to reward excellence among those managers who offer specific ESG-focussed funds and strategies over the 12 months to 31 October 2017. We will also accept entries from those firms who have best integrated ESG across their broader product range and managers focussing on impact investing.

Liability-Driven Investment (LDI) Manager of the Year

Cashflow-driven Investment (CDI) Manager of the Year *** NEW FOR 2018

Risk Reduction Provider of the Year

DB Investment Innovation of the Year

Fixed Income Innovation of the Year

Other Categories:

Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award *** NEW FOR 2018 ***

This category is open to the providers, advisers and asset managers that provide services to occupational pension schemes and trustees. It aims to reward those firms that best promote diversity and inclusion within their own workforce as well as those who have contributed to industry-wide initiatives in this area. Judges will, in particular, look at initiatives launched and conducted during the year to 31st October 2017.

Independent Trustee of the Year

Third-Party Administrator of the Year

Technology Innovation of the Year

Communication Initiative of the Year

Educational Initiative of the Year

The Educational Initiative of the Year category specifically aims to reward the consultancy or provider which has worked hardest to help trustees and employers understand the complex world of pensions and investments over the 12 months to 31 October 2017. Judges will look at the extent to which consultant and provider initiatives have helped trustees understand complex topics, make better decisions or look at things in a new way. Initiatives may include such things as thought leadership, articles, whitepapers, seminars, conferences, videos etc